Memorandum
TO: Sam Rohrer Supporters & Allies
FR: Jeff Coleman, Senior Strategist
DA: 15 January 2010
RE: Corbett Campaign Launches Opposition Research Effort
Late yesterday afternoon we learned that the campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett began the first phase of an opposition research effort against Representative Rohrer. A Corbett campaign investigator began research efforts in the State Capitol this week by filing a comprehensive “Right-to-Know” request to the House of Representatives. This development signals that a decidedly more aggressive, negative approach to our campaign is about to begin.
Old politics. New Tactics.
The politics of personal destruction is not new. For decades, digging for dirt or some “useful” piece of information on an opponent has been effectively used to intimidate, distract and derail a campaign that threatens conventional political assumptions about who should win an election and when. During a December press conference on Bonusgate indictments, this is how Attorney General Corbett described the process of investigating political opponents:
“Opposition research is an extensive investigation into the personal and professional life of political opponents and details the strengths and weaknesses of an opponent in an attempt to find general and specific campaign strategies for defeating the opponent. These opposition research reports are detailed, often taking weeks to prepare and are frequently more than 100 pages in length.”
In recent years much of Harrisburg’s political community has lost tremendous professional credibility because of shadowy tactics and questionable ethics by its participants. From taxpayer and privately-funded smear campaigns to publicly subsidized mega-bonuses for campaign work, new technology has even accelerated this race to the bottom.
How should we respond?
Representative Rohrer has made it clear to all of us involved in this effort that this campaign will be a debate about big ideas not people or personalities. That means you’ll never see a private investigator, staffer or intern who works for us, sifting through our opponent’s personal or professional life in search of that backdoor to victory.
Think back to the beginning of this young campaign, just a few weeks ago. Representative Rohrer entered the race because he feels a sense of duty to confront the unprecedented challenges Pennsylvania will face in the next four years. He has asked all of us to remain respectful of our opponents, their families and supporters, while fighting off any tug to be personal, petty or political in our responses to attacks. That’s his challenge to us, and we’re committed to this kind of campaign.
What can you do?
It’s pretty simple. We need you to keep your eyes and ears open for any sign of negative or misleading campaign activity. If you receive an attack email, letter or phone call – let us know immediately so we can set the record straight. You’ll find the campaign tipline at www.TheStrategyRoom.org.
Let’s keep our eye on the finish line in May. Keep making phone calls, telling your friends and introducing people to this campaign for conservative change!